Difficult Trigger Avoidance

[porthos06]

Hello 👋 I'm wondering if anyone has any handy tips for me, please.

My asthma flares whenever I get a viral infection (I think because it almost always progresses to a bacterial chest infection) but I do my best to minimise contact with people who are ill.

Today, a colleague who is clearly very unwell came into work. I suggested that they stay at home tomorrow and get better but they said they'd just dose up and then they'd be able to make it through the day.

I think they thought I was just being nice, but honestly my concerns are also selfish: I desperately don't want to get ill again and I work with this person closely.

Where we work, there is an excellent sick leave policy, so it's not like they won't get paid if they're off ill.

Does anyone have any tips for how to handle a situation like this, please?

Thanks in advance ☺

[Mandevilla]

Is there potential for you to work in an office on your own?

It might be worth asking your employers - after all, it's in their best interests not to have you off sick or working at less than your usual efficiency due to illness!

And I'm not sure I'd label your concerns 'selfish'. Viral infections (even mild ones that don't make me feel ill in and of themselves) always trigger my asthma too, and it can take several weeks for me to get back to normal - and that doesn't just affect me, it affects my family, friends, the people I work for, the people I volunteer with... Quite apart from potentially needing extra care from our already overburdened NHS. So no, wanting to stay healthy is definitely not selfish!

[Homely2 Administrator]

Have a chat with your line manager. You are vulnerable to some extent and so they should protect you where possible.

When my asthma became worse, I had to talk to my colleagues about it, maybe you could talk about your asthma more generally at work. It will make it easier for everybody to be considerate.

[Troilus]

I don’t have much to add to what has already been said apart from having a good supply of hand gel and use it regularly. Possibly open a window?

[MMBJI]

I wear a mask whenever I am indoors with other people. Many airborne particles trigger allergic reactions for me. If appropriate, that might help?

[Poobah]

You could ask for an occupational health review by an accredited practitioner via HR. They will look at the workplace in light of your health challenges and make recommendations to the employer in terms of reducing risk to your health. That may be anything from your own room to working from home or additional sick leave (but you can stress that you would prefer to avoid being ill in the first place).

Keeping your VitD levels at an optimum level can help the immune system. If I have any indication that I'm exposed to a virus or feel a sore throat coming on (my achilles heal) then I gargle with Listerine and chew on vitC/zinc lozenges (zinc is great for battling viruses but it's important to get lozenges rather than just swallowing a pill). I repeat that throughout the day.

[runcyclexcski]

I wear an FFP2 mask everywhere as I can't control what people do (they smoke, come to work sick etc). Helps avoid the pollen and the dust, too.

[peege]

It's really unfortunate (infuriating even 🤬) - especially after the pandemic - that people haven't picked up that masks can really help prevent cross contamination.

I'm afraid I'd have then answered "don't be offended, I'll have to wear a mask to prevent catching anything because even a simple cold always ends up as a lung infection ".

I went through exactly this for years at work so learnt how to open doors with elbow, knees, pulling down my sleeves so as not to touch anything anyone else had, also never touch escalator handrail or handles on the Tube.

Personally, I developed Small Airways Disease & CFS after continuous infections & pneumonia so take lots of extra vitamins to boost immune system and at first sign of throat tickle drink effervescent Vitamin C 1000mg to help fight infection.

I very much sympathise with your work situation, this colleague will pass the virus on regardless of how s/he feels after dosing up so it goes round & round grrrrrr.

[Unfocusedarrow]

I would definitely speak to managers

[Karenjaninaz]

Wear a mask and wash and disinfect hands. Keep alcohol gel in your pocket. Avoid shaking hands with anyone. Keep a distance.

We can’t fix an irresponsible person.

[porthos06]

Thank you all for the helpful replies. This is such a fab forum for realising that you're not alone with concerns!I'm a primary teacher so we're actively dissuaded from wearing masks in the classroom setting, unfortunately.

In the end, I had a quiet word with my colleague and explained that I just can't afford to get ill again when I've finally (fingers crossed!) got over the last bout! Fortunately she was very understanding and just kept herself at the far side of the room.

I have thought about Occupational Health and have a feeling that if my asthma keeps flaring as it has in the last year that it will come to that. I'm going to be teaching the absolutely tiny ones next year, so God help me with avoiding germs there 😂

Thank you again for the supportive comments and suggestions!